‘The Bob Newhart Show’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

It’s been more than 50 years since The Bob Newhart Show brought Bob Newhart’s wry wit into homes every week.

In the series, Newhart played psychologist Dr. Robert Hartley, whose comedic foil is his wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette). Bill Daily starred as their kooky neighbor Howard Borden, while at work, Newhart’s Hartley had two more pals including Dr. Jerry Robinson (Peter Bonerz) and Carol Kester (Marcia Wallace).

Newhart — who is remembered for his signature deadpan style — died on July 18, 2024, following a series of short illnesses. He was 94 years old.

“I get this question a lot: ‘Why do you still do comedy?’ ” he told PEOPLE in October 2019. “Why would you ever get tired of making people laugh? You never want to give up that sound, that great sound that you fell in love with 60 years ago.”

Here’s everything to know about the lives of The Bob Newhart Show cast members after the show premiered.

Bob Newhart as Dr. Robert “Bob” Hartley

Before The Bob Newhart Show, the titular star was already famous for his stand-up comedy. However, the show launched Newhart into superstardom, earning him multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He was later inducted into the Emmys Hall of Fame in 1993.

Newhart decided to end the show after the sixth season, but it was far from his only successful sitcom. From 1982 to 1990, he starred in Newhart, a sitcom about Dick Loudon, a New York City writer who moves to Vermont with his wife to run an inn. He followed that up with Bob, where he played a famous cartoonist from 1992 to 1993.

Newhart was a legend for his film roles, too, including his appearances in Elf, In & Out, Horrible Bosses and The Rescuers Down Under. The comedian finally earned his first Emmy — for Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series — years later in 2013 for his role as Professor Proton in The Big Bang Theory.

Newhart married wife Ginnie in 1963, and the two shared four children — Robert, Timothy, Jennifer and Courtney — and 10 grandchildren.

He died on July 18, 2024, following a series of short illnesses. He was 94 years old.

While talking to Conan O’Brien in January 2021, Newhart joking how he’d like to be remembered: in a biopic played by Dwayne Johnson.

“I get mistaken for him a lot,” he said. “People will say ‘Hey Dwayne and I’ll say ‘No, I’m not Dwayne!’ But there should be quite a fight over it.”

Suzanne Pleshette as Emily Hartley

Pleshette played Emily Hartley, Bob’s confident and intelligent wife.

After the show, Pleshette played a recurring character on Will & Grace and worked extensively on Broadway. She received her fourth Emmy nomination in 1991 for her portrayal of the title character in Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean.

When Newhart was once asked about his favorite thing about his former costar, he quipped, “She had a mouth on her like a Marine.”

Pleshette wed three times, to Troy Donahue, Thomas “Tommy” Joseph Gallagher III and fellow actor Tom Poston. She remained married to Poston until his death in 2007 after a brief illness, per The New York Times.

Pleshette died on Jan. 19, 2008, of respiratory failure, according to The New York Times. She was 70 years old.

Bill Daily as Howard Borden

Daily was already famous for his role as Major Healey on I Dream of Jeannie when he joined the cast of The Bob Newhart Show.

After she show went off the air, Daily became a fixture on game shows like Match Game and had a recurring role on Alf. He also appeared on both of Newhart’s subsequent shows, Newhart and Bob.

Daily was married twice and welcomed two children via adoption with his first wife, Patricia Anderson. He died on Sept. 4, 2018, of natural causes, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 91 years old.

“He was our bullpen guy — you could always go to him,” Newhart wrote of his former costar on X at the time. “He was one of the most positive people I’ve ever known. I will miss him dearly.”

Marcia Wallace as Carol Kester

On the show, Wallace played Carol Kester, the wise-cracking receptionist at Hartley’s practice.

After the show went off the air, she appeared in other sitcoms like Full House and Murphy Brown. She also plays Mrs. Krabappel on The Simpsons for 174 episodes across 24 years, winning an Emmy in 1992 for the role.

“I don’t intend to have anyone else play Mrs. Krabappel,” executive producer Al Jean told the Los Angeles Times in October 2013 after her death. “I think Bart will get a new teacher.”

Wallace died on Oct. 25, 2013, at 70 years old, due to complications of pneumonia. She is survived through her son, Michael Wallace “Mikey” Hawley.

Peter Bonerz as Dr. Jerry Robinson

Bonerz played Dr. Jerry Robinson, a dentist in Hartley’s medical building.

After the show, Bonerz had a recurring role in Nine to Five and appearances on shows like Friends and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.

But after The Bob Newhart Show, Bonerz primarily turned his focus to directing. He helmed 12 episodes of Friends, plus episodes of beloved classics like Wings, Alf and Murphy Brown.

Bonerz married his wife, Rosalind DiTrapani, in 1963. They share two sons.